CINCINNATI — On Friday, June 12, as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Cincinnati Reds , 5-2, the game was effectively decided by the defense in left field by Blake Dunn .
Most notably, Dunn dropped what would have been the inning-ending out in the ninth inning on a lazy fly ball to left field when the score was still tied.
"It had some topspin hook to it off the end of the bat," Dunn said. "I got a bad route off the beginning. I banana'd it. I wasn't able to make up the ground. It was an awkward flight. I would have liked to have slid looking back at it."
The Diamondbacks took the lead on the play and then scored two more runs in the ninth.
"It can't happen," Dunn said about his play.
Earlier in the game, he had a bad read on a fly ball to left that fell for a double for second baseman Ketel Marte and allowed a hit to the Diamondback that ended up scoring. Dunn jumped in off the bat, and the ball went over his head.
"Me and (outfield coach Collin Cowgill ) were talking about that, and I would have (taken that route) too," manager Terry Francona said. "It came off his bat different."
Dunn has been one of the feel-good stories of the Reds' season. But he has spent most of the season in center field. In center, he has made some incredible plays.
Dunn was making his second start of the season in left field, and the configuration allowed backup center fielder Dane Myers to get in the lineup against a left-handed pitcher while having Noelvi Marte in the game in right field. Marte hadn't been playing as much against lefties, and Dunn has played even more right field (16 games) than center field (13 games) this season. The move to get Marte in the lineup worked out offensively as he homered.
But the game was decided by missed plays defensively. The Diamondbacks tacked on a second and third run in the ninth after Dunn dropped the ball. The end result was another loss suffered by the Reds' bullpen. But while most Reds' losses recently have been due to walks or home runs surrendered by the Reds' bullpen, this one was mostly impacted by the defense.
"(Left field) is the least of the places (Dunn has played)," Francona said. "I still think he's a good outfielder."
The Reds' offense failed to capitalize on some prime scoring opportunities, including a bases loaded situation in the first inning. Second baseman Matt McLain was nearly the hero twice, but a lineout to center field that looked like it could have been a home run off his bat was caught in the seventh inning. One inning later, a rocket to third base was scooped up for an incredible groundout turned by third baseman Nolan Arenado .
"(McLain) swung the bat so well tonight," Francona said. "You look up, and he could have had three doubles. That was some kind of play Arenado made."
The Reds' struggling bullpen did its part on Friday. It started with five huge outs from Tejay Antone , and the length that he provided really helped out a unit that has had to pitch a ton recently. The Diamondbacks on paper looked like a bad matchup for the Reds' bullpen because while the Diamondbacks are at their best against left-handed pitchers, the Reds' bullpen has been relying on left-handed pitchers.
The Reds had to rely on their righties this time, which hadn't been the case as much recently, for most of the later innings. Antone and rookie Zach Maxwell delivered, and Brock Burke pitched very effectively in the ninth inning while mostly facing right-handed pitchers. Burke should have recorded the third out in the top of the ninth and set up a walk-off opportunity in a tie game. Instead, the Reds were down by three runs when they stepped up to bat in the bottom of the ninth.
It was another crushing loss for a Reds' team that's now four games under .500. Dunn says his teammates picked him up after the loss.
"A lot of them told me to keep my head up, it doesn't come down to one play," Dunn said. "I carry myself to a high standard, especially on defense. The play needs to be made."
